Public evening lecture by Dr. Andreas Rehberg (German Historical Institute, Rome)
as part of the international symposium "Coats of arms as weapons - heraldic symbols in political, dynastic, military and legal conflicts of the Middle Ages and early modern period"
At first glance, it does not seem very appropriate for a spiritual institution such as the papacy to use heraldic symbols. However, with the crossed keys of St. Peter, a symbol had already been found in the 13th century with which the papal power could distinguish itself from the imperial eagle. However, in the city of Rome and the slowly developing Papal States, the popes faced further rivals for visibility in the public sphere in the form of powerful noble houses and communes. Heraldry played a major role in these conflicts, as the condemnation and denigration of political opponents could be used to great effect against their coats of arms.
Andreas Rehberg came to the German Historical Institute in Rome (DHI) in 1995 after studying medieval history, modern history and political science at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the University of Rome La Sapienza. His doctoral thesis, published in 1999, dealt with the Roman noble house of Colonna. As a consultant for the late Middle Ages at the DHI and a member of several historical associations, he works on church and social history, urban Roman sources and, for some years now, on heraldry in Rome.
Moderation: Professor Dr. Andrea Stieldorf
